Sometimes things happen that just leave you too shocked for the words to express what you feel. A 74-year-old man, Andrew Anthos was beaten to death in Detroit because he was gay.

Although I did not know him well, I did know Andrew through my job. He was a kind and gentle person, who could also be a little eccentric. The last time I spoke with him was sometime before Christmas. A few days later I received an e-mail from him, or was it a letter? It bothers me now that I can't remember which it was, but I do remember that I did follow through on the favor he had requested.

Yesterday I found out about the attack and I tried to call the hospital several times but there was no answer in his room. I wanted to send him some yellow roses to cheer him up but I was not sure how long he would be there. In fact today we were at the office going through some old files and we ran across several pictures of Andrew taken sometime in the 1970s. Later in the day I found out that he had died last night.

Andrew spent the last years of his life advocating for something he believed in. This man, that so many hate because of his sexuality, spent the last twenty years of his life (and much of his own money) gathering signatures to light the outside of Michigan's capital "with the soft colors of red, white and blue” on special occasions and holidays to honor those who have serve our country.



What kind of sick person does this to a patriotic 74-year-old man?

http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2007/02/22/4

Years ago I got hooked on the second season of The Amazing Race. Me and the kids would watch it together each week. The hook for us was a team we nicknamed the Cha-Cha's.

They were the best. While everyone else was busting ass to get to the pit-stop the Cha-Cha's would be taking thier time, stopping for pastries and shopping for Prada.

Tonight the new season kicked off and they have brought the Cha-Cha's back. I am so excited. I just wish Megmonster was here.

The husband and I have been talking about getting a new TV for the past year. The current one is about 18 years old and has outlasted his numerous wives. Around Christmas we looked at several of the flat panels that were on sale but decided to wait a while before we made that kind of investment.

Unfortunately the good ole' TV gave out on us a few days before the Superbowl. Needless to say, H3 was not a happy camper. Since that time we have been forced to watch the 19 inch that we removed from the bedroom.

We had narrowed our TV search down to a certain model but we continued to debate on the size. After watching an 18-year-old set anything would be an upgrade, but cost was a consideration. Every time we went to check them out, anything under 50 inches just did not look that big.

So after many debates and trying to choose between the 32 inch and the 42 inch we selected the later because the 32 inch did not seem big enough.

I learned a valuable lesson today. When you look at a TV that's sitting in a store with tall warehouse style ceilings, your perception if size can be skewed.

The 42 inch that looked small on the shelf, now looks gigantic in my small living room. Live & learn.

I ran across a picture of me and my siblings the other day. I love this picture. We were spending the weekend at my grandmother's house and she always had lots of fun things for us to do.

I am not sure what was going on, but most likely I staged the scene. Yep that's me in the the borrowed stilettos and silly sombrero striking a pose. It's just one of hundreds of pictures where I look like the little orphaned mexican child. I'm sure that I made everyone else put hats on and hold books because, as usual, it was all about me.

It's funny how certain personality traits had already emerged. Even way back then I would go to any lengths to be the center of attention.